130k Hawaii veterans face VA cuts, state may raise capital gains tax, UH Manoa one of 60 campuses warned about antisemitism, Maui police chief named in Sean “Diddy” Combs rape lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scale of cuts to the VA in the Pacific unclear. With significant proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs by the administration of President Donald Trump, it’s not yet clear what that will mean for veterans in Hawaii and across the Pacific. Hawaii is home to an estimated 100,000 veterans on Oahu and 30,000 veterans on the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard stops in Hawaii ahead of trip to Asia. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, is heading to Asia on a trip that will include an appearance at a security conference in India next week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi could raise its capital gains tax to 9%. Lawmakers are considering increasing the capital gains tax from about 7% to 9%. Capital gains are the profits earned on investments or through the sale of a property. Hawaii Public Radio.

Double-digit raises considered for state officials. The Commission on Salaries on Thursday will consider finalizing recommendations that would give the governor a series of pay raises totaling 27% until mid-2030, in addition to 44% overall pay increases for state legislators over the next five years. Star-Advertiser.

Why Does UH’s New President Need A $250,000 Adviser? Before University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel took office, she already had plans to bring on a new senior adviser from her last job in New York. That adviser, Kim Siegenthaler, started work last week, earning $250,000 a year. In January, the university’s Board of Regents had created the new position just for her, opting to forgo formal recruitment. Civil Beat.

Resolution for potential state highway patrol and speed cameras passes. A senate committee on March 10 passed a resolution aimed at making roads safer. It would ask the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to look at the possibility of a highway patrol and speed cameras along major freeways and highways. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi Lawmakers Are Pushing For Car-Free Fun Zones — But Not On Oʻahu. To reduce carbon emissions, encourage sustainable transportation and promote community health, counties could be required to pilot a “Summer Streets” program, closing select roads to traffic and repurposing them for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Civil Beat.

UHERO study: reveals ‘debilitating impact’ of construction defect litigation on housing access in Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiʻi HomeOwnership Center (HHOC) collaborated with key stakeholders to release a new, independently-commissioned report Monday examining the effects of construction defect litigation on Hawaiʻi’s housing market—first-time homebuyers, current homeowners, builders, and the overall housing industry. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi Farmers Want Protections For Poi. The Legislature is now weighing how best to safeguard local farmers and the culturally important starch they produce by adding poi to an expanding list of foods and crops the state has stepped in to help in recent years, māmaki tea and Kona coffee among them.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii a good spot to see total lunar eclipse. A total lunar eclipse that will take place Thursday will be perfectly timed for Hawaii viewing. According to NASA data, a partial eclipse will begin at about 6:30 p.m. HST. It will reach totality at 8:26 p.m. and will last until 9:32 p.m. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

UH-Manoa among 60 colleges warned of antisemitism penalties by Trump officials. In January 2024 a group of Jewish students at UH filed a Title VI complaint with U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, claiming that words and acts of antisemitism had made the university’s Manoa campus an “unsafe and hostile environment” for them. New York Times. KITV4.

City’s proposed $5.14B budget under Honolulu Council review. The city’s new plan — which proposes a $3.93 billion operating budget and a $1.21 billion capital improvement program that, if adopted, begins July 1 — will cover its costs without raising real property taxes, according to officials. Star-Advertiser.

Pilot program in Kalihi helps residents cross the street safely. The city’s Department of Transportation Services recently installed a solar-powered rapid-flashing beacon on North School Street at Ahonui Street in Kalihi as part of a pilot improvement project to help pedestrians safely cross the street. Spectrum News.

Work begins to improve street lighting at McCully and Kapiolani Boulevard. Work to improve street lighting and enhance pedestrian safety begins Monday, March 10, on the mauka/ewa corner of McCully Street and Kapiolani Boulevard next to the McCully Shopping Center.  Spectrum News.

Waianae veterans garden plants seeds to reduce homelessness. On any given night there are more than 100 people finding shelter with U.S. VETS Waianae and roughly 10% of those people are veterans. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

2 unions finalize COVID hazard pay agreements with Hawaiʻi County. The County of Hawaiʻi has reached an agreement for COVID-19 hazard pay with the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi County Seeks Input On Homelessness, Housing Strategies. The County of Hawaiʻi is updating its Strategic Roadmap for Homelessness and Housing, and inviting residents to participate. Big Island Video News.

State Rep. Sue Lee Loy trying to finish what Nakashima started: bill to revitalize Hilo’s Waiākea Peninsula. The late Big Island state Rep. Mark Nakashima spent 15 years trying to pass legislation to revitalize the Waiākea Peninsula that features the once-thriving Banyan Drive in downtown Hilo. Big Island Now.

Crews survey Kona airport after finding 3 coconut rhinoceros beetles. It's the first time they have been detected on Hawaiʻi Island in about five months.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui Police Chief Pelletier named as co-conspirator in Diddy rape case lawsuit; mayor calls for leave, investigation. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen is asking the Police Commission to place Maui Police Department Chief John Pelletier on leave after the chief was named in a lawsuit alleging he posed as a sheriff to a woman who reported being raped by Sean “Diddy” Combs and took two people at gunpoint from Las Vegas to the California home where they witnessed the rape of the woman in 2018. Maui Now. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.  KITV4.

Council takes action on Maui County Fair, public tax notices, traffic safety and more. A bill to appropriate $1.5 million to the nonprofit Festivals of Aloha for the 2025 Maui County Fair gained final approval Friday from the Maui County Council and advances to the desk of Mayor Richard Bissen. Maui Now.

Lahaina fire survivors await electrical infrastructure as HECO hits delays. As more homes are rebuilt in Lahaina, a new challenge is leaving residents powerless.That is because Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is facing its own challenge. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Volunteers clean site more than 60 years after a missile’s crash landing. About 800 feet above sea level, two dozen volunteers embarked on a nearly 24-mile trek about to the top of Niu Valley Ridge by all-terrain vehicle to clear debris left behind from an inert testing missile that crashed more than 60 years ago. Kauai Now.

Kauai’s Corey Nakamura honored. Corey Nakamura, the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School principal, was honored on Saturday as one of the Department of Education’s Top 15 principals by the Island Insurance Foundation in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Gabbard confirmed as intelligence chief, Native Hawaiian project funding frozen, nonprofits told to strip 'climate change' wording from websites, nuclear power exploration gains steam, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence chief. Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. representative for Hawaii with little intelligence experience, was confirmed as the top U.S. spy this morning, as Republicans lined up behind a nominee once seen as among President Donald Trump’s most controversial picks. Reuters. Maui Now.  Associated Press.

Trump executive order impedes funding for Native Hawaiian-led climate work. On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order that paused the release of Inflation Reduction Act funds. More than 4,000 miles away in Hawaiʻi, that order stopped several Native Hawaiian-led climate projects in their tracks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi Agricultural Projects At Risk Amid Federal Funding Freeze. The federal officials told Hawaiʻi nonprofits to delete references to climate change and Biden’s clean energy law from their websites. Civil Beat.

Nuclear power exploration legislation gains steam. Two Senate committees this month have pushed forward a bill to establish a task force led by the state’s chief energy officer to study the feasibility of using advanced nuclear power technologies as part of achieving Hawaii’s clean energy goals. Star-Advertiser.

China Tariffs Could Hike Cost of Food, Luggage, Furniture, Clothing. China supplies products for many Hawaiʻi businesses that would be affected by the Trump administration’s 10% tariff. Civil Beat.

Businesses and conservationists square off on environmental oversight in state areas. Should boat tours, aquarium fishing and other activities in state-monitored areas be allowed before completing an environmental review? It’s something lawmakers are considering. Hawaii Public Radio.

Full state Senate to vote on several bills addressing top community concerns. The measures — which now move to the full Senate for a final vote before crossing over to the state House — include actions to curb illegal fireworks, increase workforce development opportunities for residents, enhance the health and safety of electric bike users and stabilize the condominium insurance market. Kauai Now.

Bill to lower Hawaii’s legal blood alcohol concentration receives support. The House Committee on Transportation advanced HB1387 HD1 aiming to lower the BAC threshold for driving while under the influence. KITV4.

Measure would bar prosecution of sex trafficking victims if they seek help. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would protect victims of sex trafficking from criminal charges if they seek help from law enforcement or medical assistance. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Police union to vote on COVID hazard pay settlement. The union representing Honolulu police officers will vote on a COVID hazard pay settlement with the city worth more than $30 million with initial payouts of $20,000 “or more” by June 30. Star-Advertiser.

Red Hill illness study released after apparent half-year delay. A new military study shows Red Hill families had higher rates of migraines and esophagus problems after drinking contaminated water. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Spent $21,000 A Month To Power A Village Of 20 Tiny Homes. An independent study and a key state official criticize big operating costs when kauhale aren’t connected to utilities. Civil Beat.

Bill to limit number of Waikiki street festivals moves ahead in city council. In 2024 there were some 40 applications for street festivals, parades and other events that shut down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra turns to lawmakers for funding to expand musical outreach. On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee advanced Senate Bill 441, which would recognize HSO as a state orchestra and grant it $500,000 for the next two years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Lawmakers want state to buy 146-acre Ka‘u parcel for farming. Senate Bill 1003 was introduced by a pair of Big Island Democrats — Kona Sen. Dru Kanuha and Kohala Sen. Tim Richards — and would allocate nearly $3 million to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to purchase a 146-acre agricultural parcel just west of Pahala. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiʻi County task force continues to combat opioid crisis with collaborative outreach. On Valentine’s Day, that Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force will be showing Aloha to all loved ones and the community by reaching out with a message of hope, treatment and the value of prevention. Big Island Now.

Maui

Proposed UH Maui College four-year nursing program moves ahead in state Senate. A measure aimed at addressing a shortage of nurses on Maui by establishing a four-year nursing Bachelor of Science degree program at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College has passed second reading on the Senate floor. Now, it’s headed to the influential Ways and Means Committee for decision-making on funding. Maui Now.

$3.2M released for axis deer fencing in South Maui to address flood risks, environmental concerns. State Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey on Wednesday announced $3.2 million in Capital Improvement Project funds to design and construct axis deer fencing in South Maui.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Council addresses nurse-patient ratios. The Kauai County Council unanimously passed a resolution “urging the Hawaii State Legislature to Implement Safe Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Requirements for Hospitals” during its Kauai County Council meeting on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Waimea Town Celebration: 9 days of events for every part of West Kauaʻi. The 48th annual Waimea Town Celebration begins Saturday and will be as fun as ever with long distance canoe races, storytelling, rodeos, films, concerts and eating contests. Kauai Now.

Green returns to Washington to again oppose Kennedy, immigrant crackdown begins in Honolulu, lawsuit filed over water commission appointment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green to returns to Washington, D.C. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., travels to Washington, D.C., this week to provide input regarding the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Green has expressed concerns about the potential impact of Kennedy’s confirmation on Hawai‘i and the nation. Maui Now.

Tulsi Gabbard’s unorthodox path to Trump’s intelligence team. Gabbard, who grew up in a fringe spiritual movement and was a darling of the left during her early years in Congress, has ricocheted across nearly the entire ideological spectrum of American politics, fueling questions about what she stands for and truly believes. New York Times.

Hawaiʻi Conservationists, Taro Farmers Sue To Stop Greenʻs Cultural Pick For Water Board. A new community group argues that Gov. Josh Green bypassed the legal process to select a loea, or expert in traditional stream water rights and uses, when he held off from making an appointment for months only to restart the process after two of the four finalists withdrew. The reset, Hui Kānāwai argues in its suit, invalidates Greenʻs selection of V.R. Hinano Rodrigues to serve as the state Commission on Water Resource Management Boardʻs loea.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Latest bills would set term limits, ban cellphones in schools. A flurry of bills introduced last week would lower the blood alcohol content to be found guilty of driving while intoxicated, ask voters whether they want to allow adults to use and possess recreational marijuana, ban cellphones in public schools, impose term limits for state legislators and also bar them from nepotism, among other possible changes. They were among 3,150 bills that legislators have introduced this session. Star-Advertiser.

State House panels to review wildfire prevention bill introduced by Speaker Nakamura. A state House bill intended to prevent wildfires in Hawai‘i, requested by the administration of Gov. Josh Green, will be heard by two committees Wednesday morning. Big Island Now.

Native Hawaiian Caucus prioritizes funding DHHL, protecting cultural branding.  Funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and protecting the Native Hawaiian brand are the priorities of the bipartisan Native Hawaiian Caucus this legislative session. One measure would increase the state’s 10.25% transient accommodations tax levied on hotels by 1%, which would go into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Legislature hear proposed bills advocating for Hawaiʻi’s keiki. Hawaiʻi state legislators and community advocates joined together to present the 2025 Keiki Caucus Bill Package and priorities dedicated to improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s children and families. Kauai Now.

Police deferred retirement scheduled for public hearing by House Committee on Labor. The House Committee on Labor will hear public testimony at 9 a.m. Tuesday on a bill aimed at recruiting and retaining police officers in Hawaiʻi. Maui Now.

Hawaiʻi is the country's first statewide Economic Development District. For the first time, the federal government is designating an entire state — Hawaiʻi — as an Economic Development District. The designation will open up doors for more federal funding for local projects, said Lauren Primiano, the manager of strategic initiatives at the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Hawaii Public Radio.

Eight Hawaiʻi school robotics teams advance to the world championships. Eight out of 45 Hawaiʻi VEX robotics teams will advance to the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas after competing in the 2025 Hawaiʻi High and Middle School VEX V5 Robotics Regional Championships held Jan. 25-26.  Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Oahu

As crackdown begins in Hawaii, advocates urge immigrants to remain calm. The local office of Homeland Security Investigations posted photos on social media of officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration arresting immigrants. This Sunday, Jan. 26, in Honolulu, HSI participated in a multiagency operation with federal law enforcement partners to enforce federal immigration laws. Hawaii News Now.

Tracking recyclables: GPS devices show us where blue bin items actually go. HNN Investigates put trackers in residential blue bins for weeks. The trackers stopped at RRR Recycling on Kalaeloa Boulevard, exactly where they were supposed to go. Hawaii News Now.

Speed cameras hit bump in the road. A program meant to nab speeders has hit a bump in the road. The Department of Transportation’s speed camera program was expected to launch this month but it’s been delayed to ensure it has enough manpower to move forward. KHON2.

Kamalani Academy Was Struggling Long Before State Opted To Shut It Down. Hawai‘i’s latest charter school closure highlights longstanding challenges in state oversight.Missing financial statements, undeposited checks, school funds spent on first-class plane tickets for trips with no clear educational benefit and dwindling enrollment contributed to the state’s decision to close Kamalani Academy last week. Civil Beat.
 
Hawaii Island

Wells eyed for DHHL project. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands plans to drill two wells on a North Kona hillside with the intent of providing potable water to residents of the Villages of La‘i Opua, a DHHL master-planned community. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Mahukona Beach Park reopens. Mahukona Beach Park in North Kohala reopened Saturday after over two weeks of demolition work costing $278,000, county officials said. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Puainako Street resurfacing could be finished next month. The Hawaii Department of Transportation said in a recent press release it expects to complete major work for the ongoing Puainako Street resurfacing project by the end of March.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council votes to preserve Spring House in historic Lahaina. Maui County Council members passed on second-and-final reading a bill authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for the disposition of the historic Spring House and the Lahaina Public Library, both ravaged by the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire. Maui Now. Maui News.

MEMA wildfire review calls for clear leadership roles in emergencies. The Maui Emergency Management Agency has released its After-Action Report on the 2023 wildfires.  Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County unemployment drops to 3.4% in December 2024. In Maui County, the not-seasonally adjusted rate for the county was 3.4% in December, compared to 3.7% in November and 5.6% in December of the previous year. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Lawmakers Target Housing, Recreation Woes In 2025 Session. With a median home costing $1.4 million on the Garden Isle, lawmakers look to Vail, Colorado, for a solution. Kauaʻiʻs housing market surged more than 20% last year, squeezing out teachers, nurses and firefighters even as the county aggressively funneled money toward affordable developments. Civil Beat.

State proposing to move Kauaʻi’s only jail out of tsunami zone. The Department of Corrections &Rehabilitation has officially designated a location off Maalo Road in Lihue as the preferred site for the new Kauai Community Correctional Center. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

Memorial honoring Hanapēpē Massacre on Kauaʻi closer to completion. A memorial honoring the 1924 Hanapēpē Massacre is taking shape on Kauaʻi as state officials are closer to constructing a monument that is expected to be completed in 2026. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii heavily dependent on Medicaid funding, Honolulu yanks TV house-flipper celebs building permit, marriage scam suspected in missing Maui woman case, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

How possible federal funding cuts to Medicaid could impact Hawaiʻi. Half of Hawaiʻi’s children and roughly a third of residents rely on Medicaid for health coverage. About a third of births in the state are covered by Medicaid.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Former officials urge closed-door Senate hearings on Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief. Nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. Associated Press.

UH Contract Specifically Hides President Search Details From The Public. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents' contract with a national search firm includes a "special condition" giving control of candidate information to the company. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines employee speaks out on termination over cultural tattoo. Tracy Sielega's termination letter stated that the company was unaware that she had a tattoo after she got it in May 2024. The letter stated that her hand tattoo was noticed outside of work at a non-company event, which prompted an investigation and follow-up. The letter also said, "Disposable gloves are not considered an appropriate uniform piece." Hawaii Public Radio.

Family of missing Hawaii woman hires attorney. The family of Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi missing since Nov. 11 has hired a criminal defense attorney after the Los Angeles police chief said she entered Mexico voluntarily and amid a report that she may have been involved in an alleged immigration scam marriage with an Argentine man. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii reports 15th travel-related dengue case this year. Of the 15 travel-related dengue cases reported this year, 10 have been on Oahu, four on Maui and one on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Yanks ‘Renovation Aloha’ Permit After Civil Beat Exposes Illegal Work. HGTV hosts Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama are facing backlash because some of their speedy projects lacked proper permits. Civil Beat.

Will Exemptions In Honolulu’s Empty Homes Tax Bill Water Down Its Effect? As the long-discussed bill nears its final vote, some worry the 17 exemptions that helped it gain support also dilute the bill’s efficacy. Civil Beat.

City to begin fielding names for Ocean Safety Commission. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration says the process has begun to find candidates to serve on the new commission that will oversee the city’s Ocean Safety Department. Star-Advertiser.

Police brutality suit delayed until 2026. A father and son suing the city after they were allegedly assaulted by Honolulu police officers during a New Year’s Day-long pursuit of an attempted murder suspect are “extremely frustrated” by delays in their case, according to their attorney. Star-Advertiser.

State Worker Charged In Monk Seal Pup Death Repeatedly Let Dogs Off Leash. Lesley Macpherson, herself a longtime Hawaiian monk seal volunteer, remains on the job. Other seal advocates are calling for her removal. Civil Beat.

Closures announced at Oahu’s only public gun range. All public firearm ranges will be closed at the Koko Head Shooting Complex (KHSC) weekdays from Dec. 9-20. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu considers rideshare initiative aimed at reducing strain on Oahu’s emergency services. The Nurse Navigator program would enlist the help of rideshare drivers to shuttle patients who aren’t having an emergency to an urgent care or doctor’s office. Hawaii News Now.

EMS stresses e-bike safety due to increase in injuries. In the first 11 months of this year, EMS responded to 206 injuries related to e-bike and e-motorcycle riders. During the same time, EMS also responded to 163 injuries related to pedal bicycle riders. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Big Island students compete against 75 global teams at NASA challenge. Several students from Kealakehe High School’s engineering team are gearing up to take part in NASA’s prestigious Human Exploration Rover Challenge. KHON2.

13 motorists arrested for DUI week of Nov. 18-24. Big Island police had made 873 DUI arrests so far this year by the end of that week, a 2.95% increase compared with 848 during the same period last year. Big Island Now.

Maui

US Education Secretary to travel to Maui to ‘uplift’ academic recovery.  The U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona is schedule to travel to Maui on Friday to participate in various roundtable discussions across the island. Hawaii News Now.

DPW leader John Smith selected as County’s Office of Recovery Administrator. Mayor Richard Bissen announced the selection of John Smith, a leader with the County of Maui’s Department of Public Works, to serve as the new administrator of the County’s Office of Recovery.  Maui Now.

Maui visitor arrivals lag, but metrics point to stronger construction, housing sectors. Visitors to Maui island lag behind by pre-pandemic arrivals in 2019, according to a fourth quarter 2024 Statistical and Economic Report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Maui Now.

Environmental organization receives $200K grant toward new seed bank on Lānaʻi . A plan to begin building a seed bank on Lānaʻi will start to take shape this week. The shipping container that will serve as a storage facility has just arrived on the Pineapple Isle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Emily Ishida is new Executive on Aging. Emily Ishida was sworn in Tuesday as the county’s new Executive on Aging for the Agency on Elderly Affairs. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

USDA awards grants to 17 Hawai‘i projects, including 1 on Kaua’i, to support food system infrastructure. A federal program aimed at strengthening middle-of-the-supply chain operations and local food systems by supporting processing, manufacturing, storing, wholesaling and distribution of agricultural products announced Wednesday that it is awarding nearly $3 million to 17 Hawai‘i projects. Kauai Now.

Reality TV reno stars build without Honolulu permits, $150M DHHL project goes to developer with ties to agency, Kauai councilwoman sworn in despite ongoing court challenge, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Has Tulsi Gabbard Bid Hawaii A Last Aloha? Tulsi Gabbard owes her political career to Hawaii, where she served in elective office at the county, state and federal level. But she appears to have largely left its shores behind as her national profile ascended. Civil Beat.

USDA calls for 2.3% hike in SNAP benefits to reflect food costs in islands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday proposed a 2.3% increase to benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often still referred to by many as food stamps, for Hawai‘i to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food in the state.The proposal would result in an extra estimated $40 a month for a family of four receiving benefits in Hawai‘i. Big Island Now.

Changes in procedure, short staffing causing long lines at state benefits offices. The state Department of Human Services said calls to its offices jumped from 17,000 in September to more than 40,000 in November. In October, DHS said it’s processed 9,100 new applicants as well as 10,000 recertifications, so workers are now doing twice the amount of work as before.  KHON2.

NAVFAC Hawaiʻi awards $81M contract for waterfront projects. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Hawaiʻi has awarded an $81 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract modification to Moffatt & Nichol – Burns & McDonnell Hawaiʻi in Honolulu. The contract will fund engineering services for various waterfront projects across Hawaiʻi and other South Pacific Islands. Maui Now.

Oahu

For ‘Renovation Aloha,’ Permit Violations Are The Cost Of Doing Business. Husband and wife home flippers Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama have a low tolerance for delays. Civil Beat.

Construction At Turtle Bay Development Stays On Hold For Now. The building of a big new high-end development at Turtle Bay on Oahu’s North Shore will remain on pause as the developers respond to comments on its plans made during a review by the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting. Utah-based developer Areté Collective first applied for the permits nearly two years ago.  Civil Beat.

Community demands training moratorium after elevated lead levels found. In February, the U.S. Marine Corps took two dozen soil samples across 3,000 feet of shoreline by the Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach to test for toxic chemicals. Now in a draft report, the military tests found elevated levels of heavy metals. Hawaii News Now.

Local crime boss’s cause of death still a mystery. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii, announced Tuesday that no determination of foul play or suicide has been made in the death of Honolulu businessman and crime boss Michael J. Miske Jr. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

A Suicide At The Oahu Jail Prompts A Lawsuit By The Inmate’s Family. Two lawyers involved in the criminal case against Jimuel Gatioan say they warned the jail he was suicidal before he hanged himself. Civil Beat.

Oahu restaurant owner must pay workers $158K for wage violations. The U.S. Department of Labor on Monday announced the owner of Domo Cafe restaurants in Honolulu must pay more than $158,000 in back wages to 14 workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

DHHL project goes to developer with ties to the agency’s leader. The work, estimated to cost around $150 million, represents the first major project for the year-old company led by Patti Tancayo, who spent over two decades working with DHHL Director Kali Watson running a nonprofit affordable-housing development firm before Watson was appointed in early 2023 to head DHHL. Star-Advertiser.

New leadership and faces on Hawaiʻi County Council. The Hawaiʻi County Council has a new look as members were sworn into office this week — and decided on new leadership. Hawaii Public Radio.

New mayor suspends plan to charge admission at Hilo zoo. The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation announced Tuesday that it is suspending plans to introduce admission fees to the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo  pending further review. KHON2 . Tribune-Herald.

Harbor dredging project pau. Boaters are in deep water at last after a months-long dredging project at Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo wrapped up last week. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Project formerly known as Wailea 670 to consult with Maui County ʻŌiwi Resources Department. A contentious and complicated proposed luxury home development project in South Maui may need to meet with the Maui County Department of ʻŌiwi Resources before going any further.  Maui News.

Residents encouraged to attend Wednesday Disaster Recovery Community Meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend the County of Maui’s Disaster Recovery Community Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria. Maui Now.

State data shows more visitors are gradually coming to Maui after a hiatus due to the fires. The latest state data shows more than 180,000 visitors came to Maui in October, 34% higher than the same time last year and 24% lower than before the pandemic. KITV4.

Kauai

Holland is newest council member. Fern Anuenue Holland became the newest member of the Kauai County Council when the council was sworn in by Judge Randal Valenciano despite a challenge of the Kauai County Council race by Hawaii State Elections Commissioner Ralph Cushnie that is sitting at the Hawaii Supreme Court. Garden Island.

New hotel may be in the works on Kauai. A sale is pending on a 25-acre parcel of land in Poipu on the Garden Isle’s South Shore that is entitled for hotel or resort residential development. KHON2.

Community meeting scheduled for Lydgate Beach Park breakwater maintenance project. The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park and Oceanit Laboratories, with support from Kaua‘i County, will host the meeting from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Conservatory Room at Hilton Garden Inn Kaua‘i, located at 3-5920 Kūhiō Highway, in Kapa‘a, adjacent to Lydgate Beach Park. Kauai Now.

Locals-only discounts coming to Hawaiian Airlines, state DOT seeks young people for climate board, Honolulu mulls plastic bottle ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines to offer locals-only discounts. Starting next year, kamaaina can save money on neighbor island airfares through Huaka‘i by Hawaiian, a new permanent travel benefits program for locals launched following Hawaiian Airlines’ combination with Alaska Airlines.  Star-Advertiser.

Transportation Department seeking young people to serve on climate council. The creation of council is one of the terms that the state agreed to in a historic climate settlement this summer after a group of young plaintiffs sued the department to push for more climate action.  The youth council will advise the DOT as it works to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands Looks At New Lots To Reduce Waitlist. More than 200,000 acres on all the major islands have set aside for Indigenous use, but most of those lots can’t be developed because they’re too far from roads, sewers, electric lines and broadband or are impossible to traverse, such as cliffsides and other mountainous areas. Civil Beat.

Gov. Josh Green calls Kennedy’s choice as HHS leader ‘insane’.  Green — the only sitting governor who is also a medical doctor — described the decision as “gross malpractice” and warned that Kennedy’s appointment “will do incredible harm if he’s the director of Health and Human Services.” Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard’s sympathetic views toward Russia cause alarm as Trump’s pick to lead intelligence services. Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. intelligence services, in 2022 endorsed one of Russia’s main justifications for invading Ukraine: the existence of dozens of U.S.-funded biolabs working on some of the world’s nastiest pathogens. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu lawmakers mull ban on sale of plastic bottles on city properties. Bill 59, as drafted, states no single-use plastic bottles one liter in size or less may be “purchased, sold, or offered for sale for use at any city facility, city-authorized concession, city-sponsored or city-permitted event, or city program.” Star-Advertiser.

Plans For Hawaii’s First Public Teacher Housing Complex Face Backlash. A first-of-its-kind project would create over 100 units of affordable housing on Mililani High School's campus, but some teachers and families say the planning process needs more community input. Civil Beat.

City hosts workshops over Ala Wai bridge. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services will host two public workshop meetings this week regarding the planned design and construction of the $63.3 million Ala Wai Pedestrian Bridge. Star-Advertiser.

DOH warns of possible avian flu exposure at Mililani Pet Fair. The Hawaii Department of Health issued a warning Sunday that members of the public who attended the Mililani Pet Fair held on Nov. 2 may have been exposed to H5N1 avian influenza, which recently was confirmed in a backyard flock of various birds in Central Oahu. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

HART wants 26% budget increase for fiscal year ’26. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's combined budgets, which total over $968.3 million and would take effect July 1, show marked increases to debt service on the project’s loans as well as increased labor costs for the nearly $10 billion Skyline construction. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu 911 system restored for mobile carriers. The system went down for some mobile carriers, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, and anyone needing emergency service would have to use a landline. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Overnight ambassadors help reduce Waikiki homelessness. The expanded beach closure hours augment Safe & Sound Waikiki, a crime reduction and human services program that began in September 2022, coinciding with the start of the Waikiki Business Improvement District’s overnight ambassador program that assigns two safety “ambassadors” and a human services outreach coordinator to an overnight patrol to uphold park rules, guiding individuals toward safer behaviors and resources. Star-Advertiser.

Historic Chinatown building is turned into affordable housing. The $30 million conversion of the historic Hocking Building on a corner of North King Street and Nuuanu Avenue includes 40 apartments with monthly rent as low as $731, meeting space for the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board and office space for the nonprofit Institute for Human Services. Star-Advertiser.

Kupuna at Kahala luxury retirement complex express grievances. About two-thirds of the community’s independent residents recently expressed alarm in a letter to the chief executive and board of the nonprofit that owns and operates Kahala Nui over how to pay for buying the land under the complex while also pursuing development of a second retirement complex. Star-Advertiser.

Students connect to heritage as Filipino studies begin. In spring 2025 the one-­semester course will be taught at McKinley High School, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach and Maryknoll School. The fall 2025 semester will include Leilehua High and James Campbell High, according to the DOE. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New County Council Leadership Announced: Inaba As Chair, Onishi Vice Chair. The council leadership says it will prioritize a strong partnership with Mayor-elect Kimo Alameda and his administration. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

County provides update on Highway 137. At the first of a planned series of monthly community briefings about the ongoing project to reopen a 3.64-mile stretch of Highway 137 in lower Puna, Department of Public Works spokeswoman Sherise Kanae-Kane said the work is still on track to be completed by March 2026. Tribune-Herald.

The humpback whales are coming: Tour company spots one off Kona Coast. Hawaiian Adventures Kona on Saturday encountered their first humpback whale sighting of the season. Big Island Now.

Maui

State gets $10M grant to save West Maui reefs. A nearly $10 million federal grant to the state will restore habitat from “summit-to-sea,” with the goal of saving West Maui reefs. Star-Advertiser.

There's more FEMA housing for Lahaina fire survivors, but they'll have to pay rent soon. A Federal Emergency Management Agency modular home site in Lahaina called Kilohana will be ready to house residents Friday.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Why a $4 billion settlement of Maui fire claims is tangled up in court. Getting a deal done quickly meant adopting an unorthodox approach to the insurance industry’s role in the settlement — one that the industry is challenging. Now, hopes for a timely payout are at the mercy of the courts. New York Times.

Settlement negotiations underway in wrongful death lawsuit from 2023 police shooting. More than a year and a half after a Molokai man died in a police shooting on April 30, 2023, a civil lawsuit filed by his family might be headed for a settlement. Maui News.

Lahaina neighborhood watch, checkpoints prevent looting, disaster tourism. The program’s primary purpose is to prevent looting, mostly of building materials and tools left overnight. But it also has been to prevent a phenomenon known as disaster tourism, where visitors gawk and take pictures of destruction for social media. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami eyes state Capitol office after term ends. Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami seems to have his sights set on running for a position at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol after he terms out in 2026.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Meeting about Wailua Bay shoreline mitigation set for Thursday. For the past four months the Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi Chapter has been opposing the implementation of “sand savers,” the last of three parts of the Kūhiō Highway Emergency Shoreline Mitigation Project for Wailua Bay. Kauai Now.

Concern for albatross as military proposes increased training on Kaʻula off Niʻihau. The Navy said it received some 1,800 pieces of testimony during the public comment period. It expects to finalize an environmental assessment early next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauaʻi gardens race to protect loulu palms from coconut rhinoceros beetles. The Kauaʻi-based National Tropical Botanical Garden's  prized loulu palms are being closely monitored as the beetles were discovered on Kauaʻi last year.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Tulsi Gabbard faces rocky Senate confirmation as national intelligence director, Benioff funds Keaau medical center, teachers' school projects, embattled Kauai police chief announces retirement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gabbard’s Past Could Complicate US Senate Confirmation. Trump’s nomination of former Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be national intelligence director is likely to renew questions about her beliefs and background. Gabbard, 43, also has significant baggage, notably her support for autocratic leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia and Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. National Public Radio.  KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Schools Superintendent could receive pay raise, contract extension. A Board of Education committee suggested a 4% salary increase for Keith Hayashi, which would raise his annual salary to $249,600, effective July 1, 2024. KHON2.

Lynne and Marc Benioff fund $2.5M for Hawaii public school teachers’ projects. The Hawaii Department of Education said the $2.5 million is part of a fall campaign that will go to more than 3,500 teachers at 268 campuses in Hawaii, including 251 public schools and 17 charter schools. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

This Remote Hawaiian Island Had Vanished. In early October 2018, a Category 3 storm ripped through this stretch of the Pacific Ocean, erasing East Island, battering nearby Tern Island and obliterating part of the unique and thriving reef system. Here’s Why Its Comeback Is Crucial. The storm destroyed a primary nesting site for endangered sea turtles and monk seals. East Island’s reemergence in this remote atoll has become an unexpected sign of resilience against climate change. Civil Beat.

Oahu

ACLU prepares to file suit against HPD, city over arrests of sober drivers at DUI checkpoints. The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding the Honolulu Police Department change arrest policies at DUI checkpoints or face a lawsuit. Hawaii News Now.

UH Cancer Center leader Dr. Naoto Uenoʻs own medical history drives his quest for expanded access. The UH Cancer Center recently renewed its National Cancer Institute designation, which it has maintained since 1996. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Kaimuki’s Queen Theater Went From Playhouse To Porn Hub. The former movie palace has languished for almost 40 years, prompting the Honolulu City Council to take steps toward condemning the valuable property. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Bill regarding home repairs passes. Small-scale home repairs could become easier to make if Mayor Mitch Roth signs a bill that exempts repair projects below a certain cost from needing a building permit. Tribune-Herald.

Kea‘au to get $60M health center. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and wife Lynne, Big Island residents, recently pledged $25 million toward the project, and Gov. Josh Green, a physician, has pledged to work to secure a matching $25 million for construction. Tribune-Herald.

Skyrocketing parking costs in downtown Kona keeping residents away, hurting businesses. Over the past few years, the patchwork of parking lots along and around Kailua-Kona’s touristy Aliʻi Drive from King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort to Coconut Grove have drastically increased their parking rates, with some previously free places to park transitioning to pay lots. Big Island Now.

Hawaii appeals court hears case on State’s responsibility on Peter Boy’s death. Three years ago, Peter Boy’s surviving siblings and estate won a partial judgement in their wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the state failed to act on clear signs of abuse. A failure they believe led to his death.  KHON2.

Fire Weather Watch For Hawaiʻi, Power Shutoffs Possible. Dry fuels, low relative humidity and strong trade winds could result in critical fire weather conditions for leeward areas on Friday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

FEMA extends assistance to Maui survivors; Schatz asks for further aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Hawaii’s request to extend Financial Assistance and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for an additional year, now through Feb. 10, 2026. Star-Advertiser.

Kupuna who survived Maui wildfires offered affordable housing. The non-profit, J. Walter Cameron Center, is launching Na Hale Kupuna (NHK), an affordable housing project funded by Maui County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the federal CARES Act. NHK offers seven long-term condominium units in West, Central, and South Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Unplugging the Puʻunēnē Avenue bottleneck; relief ahead for Central Maui motorists. State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen called the $25.5 million widening of the remaining portion of Puʻunēnē Avenue from two to four lanes a “capacity completion” project. Maui Now.

Some wish Lahaina’s 225-foot-high smokestack would be torn down. A preservation group is pushing to repair a near-century old relic of West Maui’s sugar plantation. Meanwhile, some critics wish the landmark would be torn down. Hawaii News Now.

Test plot growth at Maui Gold Pineapple ‘better than anticipated,’ sources say. About a year and a half ago, new owner Todd Domeck of Maui Gold Pineapple Company committed to completely eliminate fumigants from its practice and focus more on regenerative farming. Maui Now.

Kauai

Embattled Kauai police chief announces retirement. Faced with disciplinary proceedings and an investigation over alleged retaliation, the head of the Kauai Police Department is retiring next year. Chief Todd Raybuck announced his decision in an internal memo sent to the full department Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Fire weather watch in effect Friday for all leeward portions of state, including Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau. The combination of dry fuels, low relative humidity and strong trade winds could spark critical fire weather conditions for leeward sections of the state at the end of this week. Kauai Now.

Corteva sees the faces of hunger in Lihue. The group of representatives from Corteva Agriscience, including Yael Claussen, Kristen Ma and Archie Acoba were silent on Wednesday morning when they rolled into the Kauai Independent Food Bank loading area. Garden Island.

Counties grapple with building code changes as affordable housing grants flow in, storms Gilma and Hector expected to weaken, bring weekend rain, newspaper puts the AI in Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

As stakeholders navigate building code updates, counties bear the burden. Gov. Josh Green's emergency housing proclamation, issued last July, suspended the State Building Code Council. As a result, the 2021 international codes were adopted by the state last month without changes. Hawaii Public Radio.

HECO and KIUC submit plans to strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters. Hawaiʻi's two big electricity providers have filed plans with the Public Utilities Commission about what they are doing to prepare for natural disasters. Hawaii Public Radio.

Storms Gilma and Hector to weaken, bring rain to start the holiday weekend. The latest hurricane center forecasts show that tropical cyclones Gilma and Hector are weakening as they move closer. KHON2. Hawaii News Now.  Star-Advertiser.

DOE contracts with Roberts Hawaii for school bus drivers to expire in October. The State made three contracts to find a solution to the school bus driver shortage. This provides school bus service to students on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. KITV4.

Young UH-Manoa voters have little enthusiasm for the presidential race. Young voters could play a critical role in deciding who will be America’s next president, but as a new school year begins at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, there’s little enthusiasm in any big way ahead of Nov. 5. Star-Advertiser.

Trump to put Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr. on his transition team. Former President Donald Trump plans to name his former rival, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Hawaii’s Tulsi Gabbard, a one-time Democrat, as honorary co-chairs of a presidential transition team that will help him select the policies and personnel of any second Trump administration, according to a campaign senior adviser. New York Times.

Water commission leader is named following wildfire-related controversy. An attorney with complex litigation experience is positioned to be the next administrator of state water resources more than a year after controversy related to the Lahaina wildfire led to the reassignment, reinstatement and resignation of a predecessor. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawyer: Hawaii Prisoner Who Was Stabbed Repeatedly In Arizona Must Be Moved. Myles Breiner says his client fears for his life after being stabbed dozens of times in an alleged gang attack at the Saguaro Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Oahu

$10M in incentives available for affordable housing developers under new law. In an effort to get more affordable housing built, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed Bill 3 into law to offer more incentives for owners and developers. KHON2.

State grants contract for Oʻahuʻs 1st teacher workforce housing development. The 109-unit project will be built on the Mililani High School campus for teachers making up to 120% of the state’s annual median income. Hawaii Public Radio.

BWS Consultants: Thousands Of Navy Water Tests After The Red Fuel Leak Are Invalid. Residents who use the water system affected by that spill say the experts' findings support their concerns that there's still something in the water. Civil Beat.

UH researchers granted $4.2M to take on Hawaiʻi’s clean energy needs. A $4.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation will allow a team led by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers to tackle clean energy needs on multiple fronts, from sustainable solutions and integrating Native Hawaiian knowledge to engaging with high school students. Kauai Now.

Bikinis, surfboards and battle-axes? Hawaii loosens long-strict weapons laws after court ruling. Hawaii’s tourist hotspot of Waikiki is known for bikinis, shopping and surfboards. But resident Andrew Roberts has recently introduced a different item on evening walks through his neighborhood: a long-poled battle-axe. Associated Press.

Former homeless outreach center becomes encampment hotspot in Wahiawa. A facility in Wahiawa that was initially opened to get homeless individuals off the streets is now a hotspot for illegal encampments. Residents said ever since the nonprofit Achieve Zero closed its doors in December, it’s become a place for squatters and suspicious activity. Hawaii News Now.

3 face federal charges in game room robbery. Three men are facing federal charges after they allegedly robbed an illegal gambling operation on Kawaiahao Street at gunpoint early Thursday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Man indicted for allegedly shooting boy, 16, riding TheBus. An Oahu grand jury indicted a 19-year-old man for attempted murder after he allegedly shot a 16-year-old Farrington High School student on Aug. 9 who was riding TheBus after school, according to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Schofield soldier faces 3 charges in pregnant wife’s disappearance. A 28-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier, who is the husband of a missing 19-year-old pregnant woman, is facing three charges, the U.S. Army in Hawaii announced Tuesday in a news release. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Safe Space, mobile kitchen to be unveiled Friday at Salvation Army.  Funded through $1.8 million in state and county money, the Hilo Overnight Safe Space will house up to 25 homeless individuals each night at the Salvation Army’s Ponahawai Street location. Tribune-Herald.

Death of Ocean View man by dog mauling led to stronger state penalties for owners of uncontrolled vicious animals. A year after four dogs viciously attacked 71-year-old Bob Northrop while he was out for a walk, the animalsʻ owners Kalani Burgher and Keli Toyama were charged with negligent failure to control a dangerous dog and will face a judge in the case on Sept. 5 in Kona District Court. Big Island Now.

Maui

Queen Kaʻahumanu Center change of zoning gets final Council approval for redevelopment. Maui County Council members approved on second-and-final reading Tuesday land use measures to pave the way for redevelopment of Queen Kaʻahumanu Center as it struggles amid a nationwide decline in brick-and-mortar shopping malls. Bills 67 and 68 advance to Mayor Richard Bissen for final action. Maui Now.

Government Bureaucracy Complicates Maui’s Response To Sea Level Rise. Conflicting guidance from permitting agencies makes it harder for the county to save or move roads threatened by the ocean. Civil Beat.

Corps of Engineers clearing debris from final three properties in Lahaina. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with federal, state, and local partners, announced that debris removal on the last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina is currently underway. Maui News.

Maui Woman sentenced to 10 years on prison for involvement in suspicious Central Maui fire. Krystale Kaneakua of Pukalani was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Tuesday by 2nd Circuit Court Judge Peter Cahill for second degree arson in connection with a five acre brush fire along the Maui Veterans Highway two years ago. Maui Now.

Kauai

AI-generated ‘TGI Today’ to launch on Thursday, Aug. 29. Caledo’s AI platform generates captivating studio shows featuring dialogues and interviews between avatars. Caledo will help The Garden Island revolutionize how it produces and distributes news to the communities it serves on the island of Kauai. Garden Island.

Fatal Kauai Helicopter Crash Intensifies Spotlight On Air Tour Industry. A week before the crash, one federal agency criticized another for allowing risky practices and inadequate communication in the Hawaii air tour industry. Civil Beat.

Green names new water resources chief, two more cyclones heading toward the state, more than 5k hotel workers vote to strike, Lahaina property prices spike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green Taps New Hawaii Water Resources Board Head After Kaleo Manuel’s Departure. Ciara Kahahane is poised to leave the state Attorney General's office to serve as the board's new first deputy. Civil Beat.

Tropical cyclones coming to Hawaii at peak of season. As Tropical Storm Hone moves away from the Hawaiian Islands, two more tropical cyclones — Hurricane Gilma and Tropical Storm Hector — are approaching, though their impacts might not be as severe. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s visitor industry faces threat of hotel, airline strikes. More than 5,000 workers have authorized a strike at the Sheraton Kauai Resort and seven Waikiki hotels: the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort; Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort &Spa; Moana Surfrider — a Westin Resort Spa; The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort; Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Sheraton Waikiki; and the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort &Spa. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for 2020 Democratic nomination, endorses Trump against former foe Harris. Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential bid, furthering her shift away from the party she sought to represent four years ago and linking herself to the GOP nominee’s critiques of Vice President Kamala Harris and the chaotic Afghanistan War withdrawal. Associated Press.

From surfing buddies to eco innovators: how expired life vests became ‘The Surf Bag’. What began as a quest to enjoy longer surf sessions has evolved into a groundbreaking product: The Surf Bag, crafted from expired Hawaiian Airlines life vests. KHON2.

Oahu

Low morale, poor communication among complaints by HPD officers in internal survey. HPD survey praises leadership, questions communication. The Honolulu Police Department posted 111-page-long “2024 Commander Performance Survey Results” that detail optimism and frustration about morale, equipment and operations under the leadership of Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu EMS Sued For Wrongful Death Over Kailua Ambulance Fire. Family of the 91-year-old patient who died in 2022 after the ambulance in which he was riding burst into flames accused Honolulu EMS of wrongful death and negligence. Civil Beat.

$2.5 million electric vehicle charging station breaks ground at Aloha Tower. On Monday, the Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the construction of the second electric vehicle charging station under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. KHON2.

'A mechanism for moving forward': Neglected Pearl City cemetery sees glimmer of hope. Sinking graves. Crumbling crypts. Stolen urns. These are a short list of ongoing problems facing Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

$10.5 million available for homeless programs. Since 2022, Hawaii County has set aside 75% of certain residential property tax revenues to fund programs addressing homelessness on the Big Island through the Office of Housing and Community Development’s Homelessness and Housing Fund. Tribune-Herald.

Hawai‘i County still dealing with aftermath of Hone with prolonged power outages. With approximately 1,900 Hawaiian Electric customers experiencing prolonged power outages following Hurricane Hone, Hawai‘i County has opened two shelters. Big Island Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hone: Heavy rains, strong winds, but more hassle than harm. Tropical Storm Hone didn’t hit Hawaii Island directly, but did leave its calling card over the weekend in the form of heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Contested case delays long-awaited vote on Hawaiʻi Island aquarium fishing permits. On Friday, the Board of Land and Natural Resources was scheduled to vote on the proposed structure for a controversial West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area permit, which covers the entire western coast of the island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Maui’s New Coastal Rules Are Full Of Loopholes, Environmental Group Says. In a lawsuit, Maui Tomorrow rejects the regulations as essentially toothless, but the county says they will expedite permitting and avoid unnecessary hurdles. Civil Beat.

'Problematic': Lahaina lots listed for thousands more than pre-fire value. Members of the Lahaina Community Land Trust worry the much-resisted concern could soon become a reality as several leveled lots were recently listed for thousands of dollars higher than what they were appraised for before the tragedy. KITV4.

Milestone reached with debris removal underway on last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina. The US Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with federal, state, and local partners, announced that debris removal on the last single- and multi-unit residential properties in Lahaina is underway. This milestone marks a significant achievement in the Personal Property Debris Removal Program, as all residential properties will be cleared months ahead of the original January 2025 deadline. Maui Now.

Public invited to comment on cleanup of 700-gallon fuel spill at Haleakalā. The public can now weigh in on cleanup of a fuel spill atop Haleakalā. The 2023 fuel spill was caused by a lightning strike to an emergency generator.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Kauai Community College enrollment up 11.9 percent for fall semester. Kauai Community College opened its doors to the fall semester on Monday with an opening day census of 1,277 students. Garden Island.